Bunbury 1892-1901
This unit was first raised on the 24th October 1892 as the Bunbury Rifle Volunteers with nearly 60 men under the command of Captain Lovegrove. Throughout 1893 the unit received its martini-henry rifles and created its own band, with their uniforms arriving in 1894. The unit strength for 1894 was:
1 Captain (Lovegrove)
1 2nd Lieutenant (Woodrow)
56 Enlisted
In 1895 the unit received its very own drill hall and Captain Woodrow become the new CO. In 1897, 4 men from the unit deployed to London as part of the for Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee celebrations, they were Cpl Kean and Pte’s Oldham, Arnot and Harrington. The unit strength for 1897 was:
2 Captains (Woodrow, Williams)
1 Lieutenant (Moore)
84 Enlisted
Throughout the 1890’s the unit was very active in the annual Flemming Cup competition. Taking part in it between 1897-1902 it won twice (1899, 1901), came 2nd once (1902) and came 3rd twice (1897, 1900). This made the Bunbury Infantry the second best unit in marksmanship behind the Permanent Force Artillery.
In 1899 the unit received a new rifle range. In 1900 the unit was renamed as the C Company, 3rd Battalion, Infantry Brigade. In 1903 when the unit transferred to full federal control it became the B Company, 1st Battalion, Western Australian Infantry Regiment. It was renamed again in 1912 to B Company, 86th Infantry Regiment. It changed for its final time in 1918 to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment which still exists to this day as part of the 11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment.
During the 2nd Boer War 11 members of the Bunbury Infantry served in South Africa. 4 served in the 1st WAMI, 1 in the 3rd WAMI, 1 in the 4th WAMI, 1 in the 5th WAMI and 4 in the 6th WAMI. 2 Bunbury soldiers were wounded and 1 soldier was awarded a MID. The 11 members consisted of 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 9 Privates.
1st WAMI
Name | Rank | Birthplace | Occupation | Age | Service | Campaign Notes |
104. John Bird | Pte | NSW | Labourer | 32 Years 7 Months | 6 Months in the Bunbury Infantry | Slightly wounded in the Battle Of Western Australia Hill 9/2/00 |
107. John North | Pte | Belfast, Ireland | Carpenter | 28 Years | 3 Years in the Bunbury Infantry | Wounded slightly in the Erste Fabritan engagement 4/5/00 |
108. Septimus L Shaw | Pte | VIC | Labourer | 20 Years 7 Months | 1 Year 6 months in the Bunbury Infantry | |
117. Hugh T Shaw | Pte | VIC | Carpenter | 25 Years 4 Months | 2 Years in the Bunbury Infantry |
3rd WAMI
31. Edward J Hardey | Pte | WA | Telegraph Lineman | 27 Years | 3 Years in the Bunbury Infantry | Mentioned by C.O. in Despatches |
4th WAMI
60. John Connole | Sgt | SA | Farmer In Bunbury | 24 Years | Previous service in the SA Mounted Rifles (3 Years) 3 Years in the Bunbury Infantry | |
5th WAMI
316. Rowland Kirton | Pte | England | Farm Hand | 20 Years | 1 Year in the Bunbury Infantry | |
6th WAMI
399. Frank W Seccombe | Pte | South Australia | Labourer in Collie | 22 Years | 11 Months in the Bunbury Infantry | |
446. Ernest H Stokes | Cpl | Perth | Saddler in Bunbury | 24 Years | 18 Months in the Bunbury Infantry | |
451. Henry Buswell | Pte | Bunbury | Labourer in Bunbury | 20 Years | 11 Months in the Bunbury Infantry | |
454. John Maccabe | Pte | England | Labourer in Bunbury | 21 Years | 5 Months in the Bunbury Infantry |
COMMANDING OFFICERS
Cpt Thomas H Lovegrove (23/10/92-14/12/95)
Maj Edward Woodrow (14/12/95-1/7/03)
LIST OF OFFICERS
Captains
Edward Woodrow (20/3/94-1/7/03)
Previously served as an enlisted of the Wellington Mounted Infantry from 1876-1882. Served as an enlisted in the Bunbury Rifles from 1892-1894. Served as a 2nd Lieutenant from 1894-1895. Served as a Lieutenant from 1895-1896. Served as a Captain from 1896-1903. Served as a Major in 1903. Continued to serve in the unit when it became part of the Western Australian Infantry Regiment until 1905 with the rank of Major.
Thomas H Lovegrove (23/10/92-14/12/95)
Previously served as a Captain in the Wellington Mounted Infantry from 1877-1882.
David E Williams (23/6/96-1/7/03)
Served as a 2nd Lieutenant from 1896-1900. Served as a Lieutenant from 1900-1903. Served as Captain in 1903. Continued to serve in the unit when it became part of the Western Australian Infantry Regiment until 1905 with the rank of Captain.
Lieutenants
Henry Stanley (24/10/93-11/4/94)
Newton J Moore (8/5/95-1/4/00)
Previously served in the ranks of the unit from 1894-1895. Served as a 2nd Lieutenant from 1895-1897. Served as Lieutenant from 1897-1900. From 1900-1903 he was made commander of the Bunbury Mounted Infantry with the rank of Captain. He continued to serve in that unit when it became the 18th light Horse Regiment until 1908 during which time he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Commanded the 18th Light Horse Regiment during 1908.
Switched to the Intelligence corps where he served until retiring in 1913. Re-joined the military in 1915 with the rank of Colonel where he commanded AIF units in the U.K. from 1915-1917. He was Awarded the K.C.M.G. and 1 long service medal. He served as the 8th premier of Western Australia from 1906 to 1910. He retired in 1930 with the rank of Honorary Major General.
Forrest B Timperly (30/6/99-10/9/02)
Served as an enlisted in the unit from 1893-1899 rising to the rank of Colour Sergeant. Served as a 2nd Lieutenant from 1899-1900. Served as a Lieutenant from 1900-1902.
2nd Lieutenants
John Marshall (11/4/93-15/3/94)
Edward Maxted (11/4/93-15/3/94)
Owen W Hough (23/6/96-26/2/97)
